Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-07
MOST HORRIBLE.
Murder and Suicide Startle the City
Yesterday.
J. E. Johnston Kills His Wife and Then
Himself-CorOners Investigation.


from the room of Mr.. and Mrs. Johnston
which was Immediately above him. He
rushed to the room and found his only
child, Mrs. Johnston, lying at the west
side of the room. She was unconscious
and in a few moments she died before his
eyes. Those about the house were SO
much excited that despite the fact Of
both being dead number of doctors were
telephoned. Drs. Oldham, Graham, Jordon.
and Mclaughlin were the first at the
scene The bodies lay in the position they
had fallen after the fatal shots. An exam
nation of Mrs. Johnston showed that the
ball had entered tie head Just in the rear
OF the left ear and passed directly through
the head coming out in rear of the right.
Blood and brainy matter had oozed from
both sides of the head The face indicated
that she had died without struggle.
The body of Mr.. Johnston was the next
examined The face was covered with
blood the ball having entered at the left
temple just above the left eye and came
out just in the rear of the right ear. A IS
caliber Bulldog revolver Law on the floor
near his left hand. AS nothing could be
done ny the physicians they retired
IN few minutes and Coroner
J. W. Wingard was called He
arrived near 1890 and removed the val
uables from the bodies, and in the after
noon empanneled a jury consisting of the
following gentlemen: Perry Crosson, I.
Ii. Lynch. Gardner Wash, H. T. Craven,
}. II. Stumpff, l.. Simpson. Near 20 clock
the jury commenced the hearing OF evil
dence. Mr.. Black was the first witness
and stated as follows: My home is at War
saw, H. l am stopping i'll Wichita with
Mr.. Johnston, the deceased, who is my SON
in-law. [ have known Mr. J. f. Johnston
from his youth | forget when he married
my daughter She was my only daughter,
was 90 years Old and only child. They
have four children, two boys and two girls,
living and two boys dead. This
morning Mr.. Johnston told me he was
feeling quite we'll This was a little after
9 O'Clock. He had been at the stable and
ordered his team hitched up. l asked him
if he was going down town with The team
and he said he was. | then went in the
sitting room. He had preceded me and
went on up stairs / was waiting for the
team, and for Mr.. Johnston to come down
stairs | heard two reports of a revolver
in quick succession and heard the bodies
fall The report seemed to come from Mr..
J ohnston's room, which was oyer my head.
rushed up stairs and into stheir room.
When | opened the door the
first thing | saw was my daughter.
She was breathing but seemed unconscious.
! then saw Mr.. Johnston lying on the
floor dead. They were eight or nine feet a
part. | made no examination of Mr.. John
ston. but think he was dead"
'.Some time ago Mrs Johnston told me
that he had threatened to shoot himself on
occasions, and at one time tried
10 cut his throat with a razor She threw
it away HIS was never a drinking man,
but very eXcitable. His general deport-
ment to his family was that he was cross
and irritable. | have thought at times that
his mind was affected, but Of late
did not consider him dangerous
Mrs. Johnston had told me that she was
afraid OF him; that she had laid awake at
night fearing her life and the life of her
Mrs. Johnston was at all times
kind and affectionate. | never saw
woman try to do more for any one than
she did for him. As for my part, | did
everything | could for him. [ know of no
reaso on why he acted as he did. We were
all getting ready to start to California
morning
While Mr. Black was making his
statement ne frequently broke down
and for minutes was unable to
continue He was scarcely able
TO describe the heart-rending scene that
met his eyes on entering the room. His
were not the only tears shed at the IN
quest.
Mr.. George H Blackwelder was the sec
ond and last witness. He had seen Mr.
Johnston Monday and. he seemed very
irritable and troubled over something. He
made some remarks that in view OF yes
terday'S developments would make it
seem that Johnston was making arrange
ments for the tragedy.
In the case of Mrs Johnston the Jury
found that she came to her death from
pistol shot wound inflicted by her husband,
j. E. Johnston, Concerning MIR Johnston it
was found that he came to his death by a
pistol shot wound inflicted by his own
hands I'VE further find that the deceased
J. Z. Johnston was ~ the time laboring
under temporary mental alteration OF the
mind"
Mr. Black stated that he believed that
Johnston last June shot himself purposely
and it was not an accident As claimed by
Johnston afterwards. He knew of John
ston buying three reviewers, the one he
had in June and two since. The first and
second he hid and did not know until
yesterday that he had bought another.
From a gentleman in this city who came
from Illinois it was learned that Mr.. and
Mrs Johnston were married near twelve
years ago at Alexandria, Missouri, against
the wishes and without the knowledge of
Mr.. Black. He bitterly opposed the union
and when he heard of the marriage iuSti-
tuted a suit against the squire performing
the ceremony. \ Mr.. Callahan was then
attorney of Clark county and
the suit for two Years, when
Mr.. Black discontinued the suit
Mr.. Callahan was in the city
last summer and stated that Mr.
Johnston was in his younger days without
character
Soon after the marriage Mr. and Mrs.
Johnston moved TO Kansas City where they
'emained until about three years ago. Mr.
Black for some years has been interested
u Wichita property and when be decided
o recognize Johnston IS his son-in-law the
after moved 20 this city.
Yesterday Mr. Black wired Mr.. Scott al
)sceola. Nebraska, who married one Of
Ny. Johnston's sisters; Mr.. NcGregor, at
'tansberry, Missouri. who married an
'ther OF his sisters: Mr.. Tur-
her at Great Bend, who married Mr.
Blacks sister; Mrs. Taylor, OF Emporis,
a sister of the late Mrs. Black. He also
wired a number OF relatives and friends,
mi at a late hour last night not enough